Valve operating and indicating mechanism.



L. P. BELLINGRATH.

VALVE OPERATING AND INDIGATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1910.

1,003,131. Patented Sept. 12,1911.

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attomwo L. F. BELLINGRATR, VALVE OPERATING AND INDIGATING MECHANISM I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1910. 1,003, 1 31 Patented Sept. 12,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD F. BELLINGRATI-I, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

VALVE OPERATING AND INDICATING- MECHANISM.

object to provide improved means for operating a valve to indicate from the position of the operating means whether the valve is open or closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap for a service box or indicator post hereinafter referred to simply as a service box with means carried by the cap for engaging and rotating the valve stem when the cap is rotated, and with a lever carried by the cap which is held upwardly in position when the valve is closed, and with means for looking it down when the valve is open, and with an extension showing the word Open appearing on both sides and a plate having the word Closed appearing on both sides, these words being exhibited in turn as the valve is open or closed.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in vertical diametrical section of the service box with the improved operating means at tached thereto with the lever shown in open position and locked with the extension of lever in a vertical position and the Word Open exhibited on the side. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the lever is shown in extended or closed position, and locked in such position with the plate attached to the lever in a horizontal position and the word Closed exhibited on the side. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 12, 1911, Application filed August 17, 1910.

Serial No. 577,608.

improved structure. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the service box with cap removed.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Forming a part of the present invention is a service box 10 of substantially the usual and ordinary construction, with a valve stem 11 extending longitudinally there through to the usual and ordinary valve not shown. The upper end of the service box is provided with an annular rack or circumferential gear teeth 12, and also with one or more peripheral ribs 13 spaced below the rack 12. Upon the upper end of the service box is a cap 14 having an annular groove or furrow to receive the upper end of the service box, and also with a groove or furrow to receive the rib 13. The part of the cap 14 which extends into the upper end of the service box is provided with a central polygonal opening to receive the polygonal extremity 15 of the stem 11.

Outstanding at one side of the cap 14 are ears 16 to which is pivoted as at 17 a lever or handle 18, by which the cap 14 may rotate upon the upper end of the service box when the lever is extended in the position shown at Figs. 2 and 3., The lever 18 is provided with a socket 19 substantially longitudinal thereof and proportioned to receive a sleeve 20 which is mounted to slide diametrically of the cap 14. When the sleeve 20 is extended, as shown in Fig. 2, it is inserted part way into the socket 19 of the lever 18, and spans the hinge line of such lever and holds such lever in extended or closed position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To produce longitudinal movement of the sleeve 20, a screw 21 is journaled within the cap 14, and is actuated by means of a pinion 22 meshing with the annular rack 12 formed upon the upper end of the service box. The service box is also provided with outstanding ears 23 between which the lever 18 is received when in open position as shown in Fig. 1, and may be secured therein in any approved manner as by the use of the lock 24. The ears 23 are also provided with wings 25, and the lever 18 with a plate 26 upon which will preferably appear the word Closed and an extension 26 upon which will preferably appear the word Open as shown, so that when the lever is extended and locked in closed position as shown at Fig. 2, the word Closed will be properly exhibited and the word Open hidden by the ribs 26 upstanding on the cap 14 to indicate the condition of the valve, but when turned downwardly to open position as shown at Fig. 1, the word Closed and the plate 26 carrying such word will be hidden and against unauthorized actuation and the extension 26 of the lever with the word Open exhibited indicating the position of the attached valve. When it is desired to close the valve the lock 24 is of course removed, the lever 18 extended, and the cap rotated until the valve is .closed, which also rotates the pinion 22 and extends the sleeve 20 to hold the lever in extended or closed position and "the plate with the word Closed is exhibited indicating the position of the attached valve.

While the positions shown at Figs. 1 and 2 have been designated respectively as open and closed positions, it is ap- 7 parent that the device could be modified so that such positions may indicate the reverse position of the valve, to wit: a valve which is to remain normally closed would be indi- ,eated asclosed by the position of the lever,

as shown at Fig. 1, while when it is open the lever would be extended as at Fig. 2, and

of course the words Closed and Open appearing upon the respective posts would be transposed.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a service box and valve stem therein, of a wrench for turning the stem rotatably secured upon the upper end of the service box, a radially extending lever pivotally secured to the wrench, and means carried by the wrench for automatically locking the lever in extended position when the stem has been rotated.

2. The combination with a service box and valve stem therein, of a wrench rotatably secured upon the upper end of the'service' box, a lever pivotally carried ,by the wrench, means carried by the wrench adapted to slidably engage and lock the lever in ex-:

tended position, and means carried :by the wrench and engaging the service box for actuating the locking means.

3. The combination with a service box and valve stem therein, of a wrench rotatably carried upon the upper end of the service box and engaging the stem, a lever pivotally carried by the wrench and adapted to extend radially, a reciprocatable member carried by the wrench and adapted to engage and lock the lever in extended position, and a rotatable member carried by the wrench adapted to actuate the reciprocatable member.

4. The combination with a service box having a valve stem therein, of a wrench member for turning the stem rotatably secured upon the upper end of the service box, a lever pivotally carried by the wrench, means carried by the service box for locking the lever in retracted position, means carried by the wrench for automatically locking the lever in extended position, and means engaging the service box for actuating the last named locking means.

5. The combination with the service box having gear teeth formed at its upper edge, of a cap rotatably mounted upon the service box, a lever pivotally carried by the cap, a sleeve radially slidable within the cap and adapted to automatically engage and lock the lever in extended position when :the cap is rotated in one direction, and a pinion engaging the gear teeth of the service box operatively connected to the cap and adapted when rotated to move the sleeve.

6. The combination with a service box having gear teeth formed at its upper edge, of a cap rotatably mounted upon the upper edge and provided with a groove adapted to receive the gear teeth, a lever pivotally carried by the cap, a sleeve radially movable relative to the cap and adapted to automatically engage and lock the lever in extended position when the cap is rotated in one direction, a screw diametrically positioned relative to the cap and adapted when rotated 'to move the sleeve, a pinion carried by the screw in engagement with the gear teeth of the service box and operatively connected with the cap and adapted to actuate the screw, an extension to the lever with a position designation thereon, and a plate attached to the lever with a position designation thereon, such extension and plate being singly and alternately exhibited and hidden according to the position of the valve and operating device.

7. The combination with a service box having a valve stem operatively connected with the cap of the box disposed therein, of a rib formed about the upper edge of the service box, a cap disposed upon the upper end of the service box and provided with an annular groove engaging upon the rib, a

lever having a socket pivoted upon the cap and adapted to extend radially therefrom a sleeve movable Within the cap, a screw engaging the sleeve and adapted to advance the sleeve into the socket in the lever and thereby lock the lever When in its radially extended position and means carried by the screw engaging the upper end of the-service box adapted to rotate the screw When the cap is rotated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

LEQNARD F. BELLINGRATH. Witnesses:

E. L. COLE, ISIDORE S. Moss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

